"The role and responsibilities of local authorities in tackling terrorism" - conference in Luxembourg - 20 to 21 September 2002

Lydie Polfer: ''Co-operation between national and local levels is essential''

The current Chair of the Committee of Ministers and Luxembourg's Foreign Minister, concluded the conference on the role and responsibilities of local authorities in tackling terrorism by telling her audience that co-operation between national and local levels was essential, though subject to full respect for each other's areas of responsibility. Preventive action depends on complementary action by all tiers of government, she said, but the public must also be made more aware of the problem. There must also be links and information exchanges across borders, and at the regional, European and even global levels. The links already exist but partnerships must be used more wisely, reflecting the new security situation, and given a much more significant operational dimension.
Full speech